The Deadly Side of Death (Mini-Review)

Paid Promotion

The Deadly Side of Death is a novella by TN McCauley. Death is unlike what you've always imagined her to be. Yes, her. She has a past that haunts her and likes to go to karaoke. Death's routine is broken when people start dying without her being able to tell how they died. Who is killing people before their time? Will Death be able to figure out the mystery in time?

The relationship between Methusila (aka Death) and Ari (aka the angel Arabella) is more than adorable. Even though the book is short, you really get a sense that there is a great depth to their friendship. They are opposites that just work together. Methusila is the darker one which makes sense since she is Death. That doesn't mean she is always doom and gloom. Ari appears to be a virgin as at one point she asks if kissing always feels gross. Near the end of the book their relationship is tested which made me read quickly as I needed to be reassured that everything was alright.

Death's backstory is sure to anger some readers. Because, yep, the author draws inspiration from one popular bible story. Even if you're an atheist and never read the bible, you'll be familiar enough with the story. I find what the author did a nice piece of worldbuilding. Though I would've liked to see it implemented more with the plot.

In the world of this book, the afterlife is decided on what a person believed in life. So if you're a Catholic you'll go to heaven, hell, or purgatory. I find this a good stance to take in fiction as it doesn't exclude anyone. It doesn't say which people are right or wrong. One part I tensed up at, though, was the point Hades and Persephone are brought up. My own personal beliefs are that they are a loving couple and I loathe when in fiction that isn't the case. Luckily the author doesn't state how the deities are doing romantically.

This book has a very light-hearted tone to it. Even when it gets dark at certain points, there's always levity quickly available afterwards. Such as the vehicle Death drives. The author could've chosen any vehicle and they chose a hearse. Every time Death was driving her hearse, I felt extremely amused. Sure she's not always in a good situation, but she's driving a hearse!

The character of Frank has a good backstory to him. Now in the real world the dinosaurs went extinct due to a comet crashing into the Earth. However, in this book's universe the dinosaurs didn't die due to a comet. Instead they died because of Frank. How did Frank kill all the dinosaurs? The book doesn't go into detail and I'm glad of that. It's more amusing to imagine how Frank pulled it off than to have it explained.

For the longest time I didn't think Death would assume the form of a skeleton. I figured the author wasn't interested in that aspect of the character. But Death finally assumes that form and it's saved for important moments.

I would recommend The Deadly Side of Death to those that want an urban fantasy mystery.